Tribes of Madhya Pradesh

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Tribal population of Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh has the highest population of tribal people in India. Total tribal population in Madhya Pradesh according to 2011 census is 1.53 croresaround 21% of total population. Bhil, Gond, Baiga, Bharia, Kaul are the main tribal groups.

Tribes of Madhya Pradesh:Tribal people in Madhya Pradesh extend from Narmada River to the north and the Godavari River to the south, tribal peoples lives in the slopes of the Vindhya and Satpura mountain range.

According to population following are the largest tribal groups of Madhya Pradesh

Out of the various tribes, 46 tribes are acknowledged by the constitution of India. These are called schedules tribes.

According to he Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 1976 below are the scheduled tribes of Madhya Pradesh:

Agariya

Andh

Baiga

Bhaina

BhariaBhumia, BhuinharBhumia, Bhumiya, Bharia, Paliha, Pando

Bhattra

Bhil, Bhilala, Barela, Patelia

Bhil Mina

Bhunjia

Biar, Biyar

Binjhwar

Birhul, Birhor

Damor, Damaria

Dhanwar

Gadaba, Gadba

Gond

Halba, Halbi

Kamar

Karku

Kawar, Kanwar, Kaur, Cherwa, Rathia, Tanwar, Chattri

Keer

Khairwar, Kondar

Kharia

Kondh, Khond, Kandh

Kol

Kolam

Korku, Bopchi, Mouasi, Nihal, Nahul, Bondhi, Bondeya

Korwa, Kodaku

Majhi

Majhwar

Mawasi

Mina

Munda

Nagesia, Nagasia

Oraon, Dhanka, Dhangad

Panika

Pao

Pardhan, PathariSaroti

Pardhi

Pardhi

Parja

Sahariya, Saharia, Seharia, Sehria, Sosia, Sor

Saonta, Saunta

Saur

Sawar, Sawara

Sonr

Fig: Tribal population distribution of Madhya Pradesh

Scale:

Color

Percent of total Population

More than 50%

30-50%

10-30%

0-10%

Vulnerable tribes of Madhya Pradesh:

Vulnerable tribes are the tribes having low development indices. Other features of vulnerable tribes are:

practice of hunting and gathering,

zero or negative population growth,

extremely low level of literacy in comparison with other tribal groups

Bharia, Baiga and Sahariya are the 3 particularly vulnerable tribal group(now it is known as primitive tribal group) in Madhya Pradesh. We will know about these one by one.

Bharias :Bharia speaks Dravidian language and are completely isolated from the outside world. BhariaPeolehave deep knowledge of their forest areas and its various medicinal plants and hurbs.

Baigas: They are well known for their Tattoo tradition. Women of Baigas are expert in tattooing . Baigas practices shifting cultivation.

Sahariyas: These are very less developed tribe of Madhya Pradesh which is also found in some areas of Rajasthan. Sahariyas practices traditional wood gathering and hunting from the forests.